A North Carolina school district has agreed to pay A$135,000 in legal fees and damages to settle a Christian student’s lawsuit for violating her rights to free speech.
After last September’s assassination of Christian activist Charlie Kirk, Gabby Stout wrote on her school’s Spirit Rock: Live Like Kirk — next to a verse from the Gospel of John.
The school immediately painted over her words, accused her of vandalism and forced her to hand over her phone.
Gabby and her parents sued the school which admitted fault and cleared the schoolgirl of any wrongdoing.
WHAT THE STUDENT DID AND HOW THE SCHOOL REACTED
The high school junior at Ardrey Kell High School secured permission to paint “Freedom 1776” and “Live Like Kirk – John 11:25” on the school’s Spirit Rock, a large boulder that often features messages on political topics.
In John 11:25, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (ESV)
Within hours, she learned from social media that officials had ordered that the Live Like Kirk words be painted over.
They then sent out an email accusing Gabby of “vandalism” and saying that law enforcement was conducting an investigation.
The next day, they called her out of class to write an official statement describing her actions and forced her to show them her phone logs without getting parental permission.
Gabby Stout Tribute – Stout Family
SCHOOL BANS STUDENTS FROM EXPRESSING RELIGIOUS MESSAGES
The officials later unveiled a now-superseded speech code that only allowed “positive school spirit” and messages that “uphold the inclusive values of our school community.”
The code explicitly banned students from expressing religious messages on the rock which was often painted with messages from students, including support for sports teams and political messages like Black Lives Matter.
‘“What happened to this student is outrageous,” said Travis Barham, a senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) which represented the family.
“School officials should never censor, punish, or shame a student simply for sharing her views.”
SCHOOL QUIETLY CLOSED INVESTIGATION WITHOUT ANY APOLOGY TO THE SCHOOLGIRL
When the officials formally concluded that Gabby, her parents, and her friends had not committed any vandalism, they quietly closed the investigation with no apology and claimed they never accused or investigated her.
The Stouts’ lawsuit alleged that school district officials had violated the teenager’s free speech rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as well as her First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.
It also alleged a violation of the student’s rights to protection from unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment and violation of her due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMITS FAULT AND AGREES TO SETTLE
After being sued, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education agreed to adopt a new student speech policy, issue a public statement exonerating Gabby, referred to in court as G.S., and pay A$135,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees.
It said: “The Board has settled the case of G.S., a minor v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.”
“The Board has adopted a new Student Free Speech policy that addresses ‘spirit rocks’ and other expressive activities.”
SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSES REGRET BUT DOES NOT APOLOGISE
“Although previously communicated to the community on October 11, 2025, the Board reaffirms and clarifies the following: The students’ painting of the Ardrey Kell spirit rock on September 14, 2025, did not violate the Code of Student Conduct or other school system policies in place at the time.
“It was not an act of vandalism, and the school did not report the incident to law enforcement.”
“The Board regrets that the student had this experience.”
There was still no apology to Gabby.
Gabby Stout – Turning Point USA
SCHOOLGIRL’S REACTION TO THE SETTLEMENT
The schoolgirl told Fox News Digital, she was elated by the outcome.
“This settlement finally reinforces that I did nothing wrong, and the school system has to admit that publicly.”
“After I got permission to paint a message sharing my faith in God, school officials accused me of vandalism in front of my whole school and my entire community.”
“Then they put me through an unfair investigation.”
“They never should have treated me this way, and by saying they regret that I had this experience, they are finally acknowledging that publicly.”
“SCHOOLS CANNOT PUNISH STUDENTS WHOSE VIEWS THEY DISLIKE”
“Charlie Kirk boldly defended open and respectful discourse on school grounds literally until his last breath, and this courage inspired many across the country, including our client, whom Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials treated so abominably,” asserted ADF senior counsel Travis Barham.
“It is long past time for school officials to learn that they cannot promote student viewpoints they like while punishing students whose views they dislike.”
“We hope the new policy prevents school officials from subjecting any other students to the abuse our client experienced and will instead force them to respect every student’s constitutional rights.”
The post School Payout To Christian Student For Kirk Tribute appeared first on Vision Christian Media.